Strata Manufacturing (Strata), the advanced manufacturing company wholly-owned by Mubadala Investment Company, has strengthened global distribution of its ‘Made with Pride in the UAE’ line of personal protective equipment (PPE) products after agreeing a landmark MoU with the Japanese administrative jurisdiction of Tokushima Prefecture.

Signed during a virtual ceremony between Ismail Ali Abdulla, Strata CEO, and Kamon Iizumi, Governor of Japan’s Tokushima Prefecture, the MoU will see Strata establish a stable supply chain of PPE products and supplies between the UAE and Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, which is home to more than half a million people.

In addition to the distribution of essential PPE - including the supply of N95 masks produced by Strata’s Al Ain facility in partnership with Honeywell — the two parties will also explore potential opportunities within the technological innovation and R&D fields.

The MoU will also explore the opportunity to supply medical equipment and PPE to municipalities and government-related organisations within other Japanese prefectures.

“Since the establishment of our N95 production line, Strata, in-line with the UAE’s international humanitarian efforts, has endeavoured to support the global fight against the pandemic by providing personal protective equipment where it is needed most,” explained Abdulla.

“In addition to furthering this patriotic and humanitarian commitment to export PPE products that are ‘Made with Pride in the UAE’ around the world, this landmark MoU also facilitates wider collaborations in mutual interests including technology innovation across numerous industry verticals.

Governor Iizumi said: “Strata Manufacturing has established a successful N95 production line in its Al Ain facility, providing N95 masks and other medical supplies to the Middle East, USA, UK and more.

Our cooperative agreement with Strata Manufacturing will help build a stable supply chain of PPE products and essential medical supplies for our medical system within Tokushima Prefecture.

“The cooperation will also extend its efforts to ensure that other municipalities, government and other related organizations are supplied with medical supplies. The agreement will give hope and peace of mind to medical professionals.”

In September 2020, Strata and Honeywell celebrated the production of the millionth N95 mask from Strata’s Al Ain facility.

The collaboration between the two entities has continued to provide critical PPE for the UAE’s frontline health workers, while transforming the country into an international exporter of respirator masks to help limit the global spread of COVID-19.

Operated by a combined Honeywell and Strata workforce of 70 highly-skilled production experts, the dedicated PPE manufacturing line is now operating at full capacity and is on track to reach an annual production target of more than 30 million masks.

Strata Manufacturing is a composite aero-structures manufacturing facility based in the heart of Nibras Al Ain Aerospace, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

The company was established in 2009, with production beginning in 2010. Strata has partnerships with the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing and Leonardo-Finmeccanica Aero-structures Division as well as a Tier one supplier to Pilatus, SAAB and SABCA.

Strata is wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), the Abu Dhabi-based investment and development company and is part of the UAE Investments platform that aims to advance the development of a leading aerospace hub in Abu Dhabi

Strata Manufacturing is producing 30 million facemasks annually, all manufactured by its national cadres representing 90 per cent of the total workforce.

The UAE’s first respirator manufacturing facility, was established in May 2020 in Al Ain.

The Al Ain, UAE-based Strata Manufacturing (Strata) is a home-grown success story. The advanced composite aero-structures manufacturer has formed partnerships with the world’s leading airframers, like Boeing and Airbus, delivering more than 50,000 components.

Strata has become a Tier 1 supplier to the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

58 per cent of its employees are Emirati nationals, of whom nearly 90 per cent are women.

Most of these highly skilled workers are directly involved in manufacturing operations.